| Born: | 08-26-1918 |
| Faculty: | Law School |
| Category: | Expelled student |
Alfred RABINOWITZ, born on August 26th, 1918 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna/Austria, citizenship 1938: Austria), son of Dr. Lazar (Leo) Rabinowitz (lawyer, 1887-1969) and Hannika (Annike) Rabinowitz, née Thaler (b.1893, piano teacher), lived in Vienna's 3rd district, Rudolf-von-Alt-Platz 5/10, was enrolled finally in the fall term 1937/38 at the Law School in the 2nd year of his studies.
In 1938, after the takeover of power of National-Socialism he was forced to quit his studies for racist reason and to leave the University of Vienna.
His elder brother Kurt Rabinowitz, who studied at the Medical School, was also expelled from the University of Vienna.
In September 1938, Alfred Rabinowitz, his brother Kurt and their family were forced to flee Vienna for Palestine [Israel] where the family settled in Jerusalem. While the father of of the family, was preparing himself for the exams to be allowed to work as a lawyer in Israel, his two sons had to support the family. In 1940 Alfred Rabinowitz enrolled into the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he devoted himself to the study of classical philology (Greek and Latin) in the Philology Department as well as the Ancient History of the Holy Land.
He was a very talented musician (playing the cello), an avid sportsman as well as a prominent academic and scientific researcher. Together with Prof. F. S. Bodenheimer he has translated, commented and introduced for his Master's Degree the thesis on "Timotheus of Gaza on Animals". While pursuing his academic research he worked to support his family.
In 1942 he married Herta Pojer, also born in Vienna, in Jerusalem. In 1946 their daughter Daphne was born.
During Israel's War of Independence, on August 13th, 1948, Alfred Rabinowitz was killed at the age of 29, in defending a position on Mount Zion. He is buried in the Military Cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") IUR 1936–1938; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 453; SAUER/REITER-ZATLOUKAL 2010, 274; information by courtesy of his daughter Daphne Tamir, Israel 02/2012.
Herbert Posch
